Tool-handle



J. P. WALTER.

TOOL HANDLE.

Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

UNITED STATES ATENT lrmcn.

JOHN P. WALTER, OF EDGERTON, OHIO.

TOOL-HANDLE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,690, dated April 5,1898.

Application filed January 20, 1897. Serial No- 619,955- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. WALTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Edgerton, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, .haveinvented a new and useful Tool- Handle, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of wooden handles for shovels andlike implements wherein the upper portion of the handle is furcated orforked and the hand-grip is secured between the two prongs of the fork.

The objects of this invention are to strengthen the connection betweenthe hand-grip and the prongs and prevent splitting of the parts; andwith these objects in view the invention consists in providing a ferruleadapted to be fitted over the end of the hand-grip and provided with acap or hood to fit over the end of the prong, wings adapted to be bentdown over the edges of the prong, and a projecting point to enter theprong from its inner surface.

The invention will be fully described in the following specification andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of ahandleembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section throughthe hand-grip. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through thehand-grip and the prongs. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the ferruledetatched.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

1 represents the handle, split at its upper end to form a fork, havingprongs indicated by 2. These prongs are steamed and bent to the desiredform in the usual manner.

3 represents the hand-grip, and 4 my improved ferrule, This ferruleconsists of the ring 5, adapted to be fitted onto the end of thehand-grip, the cap 6, to fit over the end of the prong, the wings 7,adapted to be bent over the sides of the prong, and the pin or point 8,adapted to project into the prong from its inner surface. The ferrule ismade of wrought or malleable iron or any other metal that will be ofsuitable strength and capable of being bent. The cap 6 is concavo-.convex in cross-section to correspond with the contour of thehand-grip,so that when in position it will present a smooth and continuous surfacetherewith. The wings project out wardly in a straight direction from thering 5 when the ferrule is made' and until after the prong and hand-gripare arranged in position relatively to each other, after which the wingsare bent inwardly toward each other over the side edges of the prong togrip the prong tightly between them and the ring 5. The pin 8 projectsinwardly into the prong from its inner surface, as clearly shown in Fig.3. The end of the hand-grip is reduced or rabbeted, as indicated at 9,for the reception of the ring 5, and preferably the ferrule is shrunk onthe handle in order that it may fit tightly thereon.

10 represents a pin or rivet extending through the prongs and thehand-grip, and 11 the washers fitted over the ends of the pin, which arethen burred to hold the pin in place and serve as additional safeguardsagainst the detachment of the hand-grip. from the prongs. I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have produced asimple and efficient device which will effectively lock the hand-gripand the prongs of the fork together and which will prevent splitting ofthe parts.

The device can be manufactured at a very low cost, and by its use thelife of the handle will be greatly lengthened, and at the same time itmakes a neat finish for the handle and presents no projecting surfacethat can injure the hand in .use.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In atool-handle, the combination with the hand-grip and the forked handle,of a ferrule fitted on the end of the hand-grip and having an integralpin to project into theside of the prong, integral wings adapted to beIn testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in 10 i the presence of two itnesses.

JOHN P. WALTER.

Witnesses:

J. O. MORTLAND, HIRAM LONG.

